SHARE |
The following is an account of my adventures in setting up the Windows 7 beta version, made available by Microsoft on Friday, January 9, 2009. After some initial bandwidth/server problems, Microsoft finally seems to have its act together, and the beta is finally available to the crowd and download restrictions are dropping left and right.
What you'll need:
Although the public beta for Windows 7 beta will only available on January 9, 2009, the MSDN and Technet subscribers can now start downloading the DVD ISO media together with a genuine working product key to activate the Windows 7 installed. The details of the DVD ISO image available for download form MSDN and Technet are: Windows 7 Beta (x64) – DVD (English) File Name:. Jan 10, 2009 - The long wait to get access to Windows 7 Beta is over. I managed to get Windows 7 beta product key and initiated the download of 2.5 GB ISO.
- A DVD burner, and a blank DVD
- Minimal system requirements per Microsoft:
- 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
- 1 GB of system memory
- 16 GB of available disk space
- Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
The download
Download page:https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx
https://o1.qnsr.com/log/p.gif?;n=203;c=204660774;s=9478;x=7936;f=201812281339040;u=j;z=TIMESTAMP;a=20403972;e=iIf you're not familiar with beta versions of operating systems, read the 'New to beta testing?' section; otherwise, proceed toward the bottom of the page, select your version (32- or 64-bit), and hit Go. You'll need to sign in to your Windows Live account at this point — if you don't have one, you can create one (click Sign Up Now). Interesting fact: as I was writing this article, I had to go back and forth through these steps quite a few times. With only one Windows Live ID, I was awarded 4 different Product Key (no more, no less) – I think only Product Key per Windows Live account would make more sense.Fill out your personal information (make sure you provide an existing email address, as you'll need to confirm it), verify your email ownership, and you'll be directed to the download page (with Microsoft's own Download Manager, so you won't have to worry about botched downloads).
The details
Download size: 2,557,416KB (2.5GB)
The beta expires on August 1, 2009
Windows 7 FAQ: https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-faq.aspx
You will not be able to upgrade from the beta version to the official release.
Preparation
I opted for a dual-boot with my Vista installation (Microsoft for obvious reasons recommends installing the beta on a test machine). To do so, I had to resize my current Vista partition: go to Start > Control Panel. If your Control Panel is in Classic View, simply select Administrative Tools. If not, click System and Maintenance, Administrative Tools, Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions.
Select your main partition (probably C:), right-click and pick Shrink Volume. If you're lucky, you'll have some available space to be shrunk ('Size of available shrink space in MB' — Windows Vista is very peculiar when it comes to this; don't expect this shrinkable part of your hard drive to be as big as your empty space on the drive). I was barely able to squeeze 16GB out of this, even though I have more than 100GB of space left.
If you have less than 16GB (16,000MB) of available shrink space available, I strongly recommend against trying to dual-boot with Windows 7. If you're adventurous, though, you should be able to find some tutorials online on how to get around Vista's partition management tool's restrictions.
Windows XP users can access similar disk management tools by going to Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.
ISO
The Windows 7 file comes in ISO format (a disk image), which you'll need to burn to a DVD (sorry, a CD won't do!). The easiest ( and free!) way to do this is ImgBurn.
Installation
To install Windows 7, you'll need to pop in the DVD you just burned, restart your computer, and boot from the DVD.
First, you'll pick your language, time, currency, and keyboard in an environment that looks very much like Vista's. Clicking Install Now will set things into motion.
After accepting the License Terms (which I did not scrutinize — I'm guessing someone else will!), you pick your installation option (Upgrade or Custom – I picked Custom for obvious reasons). Next, you're prompted to choose your partition.
Important: Unless you don't care about your Vista installation, make sure you pick the newly-created partition!.
In what looks like Vista's installation process, you'll be going through 'copying files', 'expanding files', 'installing features', 'Installing updates', and 'Completing installations.' Be prepared for a restart (in which the newly-created boot menu behaves perfectly). Next, setup 'is starting services' – and then you'll have time to go get a drink or two... or three... or four...
If you're into nice graphics, the Windows 7 logo may impress you (I sure liked the 'Starting Windows' graphics!) — if not, you'll just have to sit through the 'setup is preparing your computer for first use' and 'checking video performance' screens.
Next — and this is where things actually start happening — you get to enter your username and a computer name (no password yet). Next, you enter the product key (you did get one, right!?!), upon which you're urged to 'Automatically activate Windows when I'm online.'
The 'Setup Windows' screen will be familiar to anyone using Vista, with options to have Windows 'help protect your computer.'
A reboot will bring up the quintessential boot menu, and you'll be prompted for your 'computer's current location' (Home, Work, or Public). Next, the 'Homegroup' question is up (more on that later), and that's it: you've got Windows 7 running.
This article was first published on EnterpriseITPlanet.com.
RELATED NEWS AND ANALYSIS
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , May 24, 2019
- | By , May 24, 2019
- FEATURE| By , May 16, 2019
- FEATURE| By , March 08, 2019
- FEATURE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- FEATURE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 14, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , February 08, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , January 21, 2019
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , December 07, 2018
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , October 26, 2018
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , September 11, 2018
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE| By , August 28, 2018
- FEATURE| By , August 13, 2018
While Microsoft is gearing up for the public Beta of Windows 7, planned for early 2009, the development milestone is already available for download from both the Redmond company and from third-party sources offering the leaked bits.
Windows 7 Beta Build 6.1.7000.0.081212-1400 has been leaked and ended up as an ISO DVD on top torrent websites and popular pirated content repositories, but fact is that the leak followed the official downloads offered by the software giant. Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 was initially released to a select pool of Microsoft testers, but also made available via the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet.
Leaked copies of Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 came accompanied by links pointing to MSDN and TechNet, revealing the intimate connection between the pirated versions of the operating system's first beta testing milestone and the Redmond company's portal for developers. These are the links in full:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/details/default.aspx?pm=p:350; http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/subscriptions/downloads/details/default.aspx?pm=p:350.
However, at the time this article was being written the pages were no longer accessible, although they were live on December 28, 2008. Still, thanks to the Google and Live Search caches, their details are still available, as you can very well see from the adjacent screenshots.
“You must be signed in to Windows Live ID to access product keys and initiate downloads. If download items are grayed out and you are signed in, they are not available to you based on your Subscription type or status; or based on legal or geopolitical restrictions; or if you are attempting to download files using an unsupported operating system or browser. If you have an expired subscription, you can now view product keys you claimed while your subscription was active,” a message from Microsoft reads, but with the actual pages no longer available the options offered by the search engines snapshots are as limited as window shopping.
There are no less than six downloads labeled Windows 7 Beta on MSDN and TechNet. At 99.39 MB the first is 7000.0.081212-1400_client_localpacks-gb1lclpckcfre_dvd_all.0. Next comes 7000.0.081212-1400_amd64fre_client_en-us-gb1cxlp_en_dvd_all.0 (302.58 MB), then 7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_ultimate-gb1culfre_en_dvd_all.0 (2,497.48 MB – these are the actual Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 bits). Then there are the 7000.0.081212-1400_x86fre_client_lip_hi-in-gb1clip_hi_dvd_all.0 (41.94 MB), 7000.0.081212-1400_x86fre_client_en-us-gb1clp_en_dvd_all.0 (186.05 MB), and 7000.0.081212-1400_client_localpacks-gb1lclpckcxfre_dvd_all.0 (99.39 MB). According to Microsoft, Windows 7 Beta Build 6.1.7000.0.081212-1400 was posted at 12/22/2008 2:41:15 PM, with the following info - SHA1:6071184282B2156FF61CDC5260545C078CCA31EE and ISO/CRC:aaba5a48.
Along with the official downloads for the Beta 1 release of the next iteration of the Windows client, Microsoft is also offering product keys designed to activate the operating system. Of course, both the Beta of the platform and the product keys are offered exclusively to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. For the time being, the Windows 7 Beta Build 77000 official downloads MSDN and TechNet webpage can be viewed via the Google cache, or the Live Search cache.
Windows 7 Beta Build 6.1.7000.0.081212-1400 has been leaked and ended up as an ISO DVD on top torrent websites and popular pirated content repositories, but fact is that the leak followed the official downloads offered by the software giant. Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 was initially released to a select pool of Microsoft testers, but also made available via the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet.
Leaked copies of Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 came accompanied by links pointing to MSDN and TechNet, revealing the intimate connection between the pirated versions of the operating system's first beta testing milestone and the Redmond company's portal for developers. These are the links in full:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/details/default.aspx?pm=p:350; http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/subscriptions/downloads/details/default.aspx?pm=p:350.
However, at the time this article was being written the pages were no longer accessible, although they were live on December 28, 2008. Still, thanks to the Google and Live Search caches, their details are still available, as you can very well see from the adjacent screenshots.
“You must be signed in to Windows Live ID to access product keys and initiate downloads. If download items are grayed out and you are signed in, they are not available to you based on your Subscription type or status; or based on legal or geopolitical restrictions; or if you are attempting to download files using an unsupported operating system or browser. If you have an expired subscription, you can now view product keys you claimed while your subscription was active,” a message from Microsoft reads, but with the actual pages no longer available the options offered by the search engines snapshots are as limited as window shopping.
There are no less than six downloads labeled Windows 7 Beta on MSDN and TechNet. At 99.39 MB the first is 7000.0.081212-1400_client_localpacks-gb1lclpckcfre_dvd_all.0. Next comes 7000.0.081212-1400_amd64fre_client_en-us-gb1cxlp_en_dvd_all.0 (302.58 MB), then 7000.0.081212-1400_client_en-us_ultimate-gb1culfre_en_dvd_all.0 (2,497.48 MB – these are the actual Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 bits). Then there are the 7000.0.081212-1400_x86fre_client_lip_hi-in-gb1clip_hi_dvd_all.0 (41.94 MB), 7000.0.081212-1400_x86fre_client_en-us-gb1clp_en_dvd_all.0 (186.05 MB), and 7000.0.081212-1400_client_localpacks-gb1lclpckcxfre_dvd_all.0 (99.39 MB). According to Microsoft, Windows 7 Beta Build 6.1.7000.0.081212-1400 was posted at 12/22/2008 2:41:15 PM, with the following info - SHA1:6071184282B2156FF61CDC5260545C078CCA31EE and ISO/CRC:aaba5a48.
Along with the official downloads for the Beta 1 release of the next iteration of the Windows client, Microsoft is also offering product keys designed to activate the operating system. Of course, both the Beta of the platform and the product keys are offered exclusively to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. For the time being, the Windows 7 Beta Build 77000 official downloads MSDN and TechNet webpage can be viewed via the Google cache, or the Live Search cache.